Spare Tire Mechanism Help (1 Viewer)

[TeCKis300]

My spare tire mechanism / pulley seems to bind trying to hoist up the spare. Anyone have hints? I don't want to just crank on it.

Just got my tires changed out at the tire shop and they mentioned there was some resistance trying to get the spare out. No real rust to speak of in my neck of the woods (S. Cali). Anyone else experience this?

I've taken the unit out and it still seems to bind on the workbench. Gave it a good spray of PB Blaster. Seems that there's a catch, where it winches up a bit, then locks up tight.

 

[TeCKis300]

Gave it a generous dose of PB Blaster in various areas and that seemed to do the trick. The mechanism has a cam/catch that rides along the hub, and it was not releasing. Likely dirt and grim causing it to bind over time. Now it works butter again.

Probably a good idea when adding air to the spare, to give the pulley contraption a spray every now and then so that it actually works in an emergency.

 

[M1911]

The mechanism on my 4Runner rusted to oblivion, so I ended up having it replaced.

 

[JeffH]

My 2010 LX having exact same issues today, hope the PB does the trick.

 

[KLF]

Every time I change my oil, I do a 5-tire rotation, and that spare tire winch gets a liberal douche with Kroil and compressed air, then a heavy coat of lithium white grease. I also lube all the door hinges and straps.

 

[Sandroad]

When the tire shop was getting my spare down, they simultaneously lowered it and pulled on it laterally while it was in the air. That jammed the mechanism and it was touch and go whether they could get it to release all the way. Ever since then, there is a "catch" in the lowering mechanism right at that point (and I have done all the lowering/raising since that incident). I've not taken it apart to look at it because it works ok so long as I lower it all the way to the ground before pulling on the tire. Probably a good habit to get into!

And, the whole mechanism gets a liberal coat of Fluid Film often.

 

[JeffH]

Yeah mine went all the way to the ground no problem, but when I tried to raise it I could only get a turn or so and it doesn't go any further up. I can get it to go down again but not up and each time it goes down it seems as though it catches pretty quick if I try to go back up - so more chain is out now than ever. Wired it up to keep from dragging the ground until I can get a better look at it this weekend.